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for it has of course more local knowledge than the servant it engages from abroad. Contracts for Labour, and Sections of Construction Work are intimately associated with the "technical conduct of the works" and should not be interfered with in detail by the Government. The Government should however see that the Contracts are placed to the best advantage, and should be able to greatly assist the Chief Resident Engineer in obtaining good and cheap contracts, and should be able to relieve him of non-technical work in this matter. The plans and specifications of the contract, the decision as to which sections &c. shall be let to contract, and the nature of the contract itself are however all matters for the Chief Resident Engineer subject to the check and approval of the Government.
Contracts for stores and material divide themselves into two groups:-
(a) Those required for the Railway itself - Plant, Machinery, Rolling-stock, Bridging material, Rails, Sleepers, &c. These are technical and the Chief Resident Engineer orders them through the Crown Agents, under the check and control of the Consulting Engineers.
(b) Miscellaneous such as Coal, Clothing, Timber &c. These should be intimated on a Requisition submitted to the Government which will exercise its discretion in getting them from Home or locally and (if the latter) whether by public tender and advertisement or otherwise. They are entirely non-technical, and the Chief Resident Engineer should be relieved of all accounts and vouchers in respect of them and of all responsibility for their cost. He should give a brief explanation of the degree of urgency and of the reasons for which they are required, and of their necessity on the face of the Requisition or in a covering letter. If the supply of such stores appears to Government guided by its advisers - to be excessive the Government refers to its Consulting Engineers, who are its final expert advisers, and are neither the employees of the Crown Agents, nor Contractors employing the Chief Resident Engineer.